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Archive for October, 2011

Kitty brought the heat: Cat shoots owner in NY

So the story goes like this: A man rushed himself to the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center on Saturday, saying that he had been shot in the knee by his cat. The man said he was getting medication out of his gun safe at about 7:30 p.m. when the cat jumped on the safe, knocking a .32 caliber handgun to the floor, where it discharged on impact, the bullet hitting him behind the left knee.

A likely story. I think that Sir Pounce was mad that dinner was a little late.

My favorite two sentences from the account of this story:

Investigators checked out the man’s home and found no signs of a struggle.

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Police ‘chase’ 10mph pensioner for 27 miles

A 76-year-old woman from Essex was stopped by police after a chase that lasted 27 miles. Caroline Turner was driving between 10 and 20mph for the duration of the chase, in which she refused to pull over for police.

The incident happened on October 4 when Turner drove the wrong way around a roundabout, according to The Daily Telegraph.

She was then tailed by a police car until the officer used his emergency flashing lights.

Turner, of Gidea Park, Romford, ignored the lights and continued driving. Police then set up a road block before her. The woman eventually pulled over eight miles into a dual carriageway after the pursuing officer got out of his car and ran alongside her, knocking on her window.

After being stopped, the pensioner reportedly said: "Why, what have I done?"

Turner appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, where she admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to stop when asked by police.

Bench chairman Barry Wheatcroft banned her from driving for a year, telling her: "The safety of the public is paramount, and your driving yesterday was a demonstration of driving which was careless bordering on dangerous."

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Squirrel shows his nuts on Great British Bake Off

well-endowed squirrel has become a surprise internet hit after showing off what he’s got on the BBC TV show ‘The Great British Bake Off.’

Viewers who were watching Jo Wheatley being crowned winner of the show on BBC2 were shocked when the massive testicled squirrel suddenly appeared on screen.

In the brief clip — which was played between baking footage — the squirrel can be seen turning to camera and proudly displaying his huge nuts.

Minutes after the clip during the grand final, fans on Twitter were discussing squirrel anatomy rather than cakes and presenter Sue Perkins tweeted: "This week’s GBBO features a shot of a squirrel with outsized nuts. Trust me, they are anatomically DAZZLING.

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Rutting deer a problem in urban areas

Increasing numbers of deer living in towns and cities are causing havoc this autumn as the rutting wild animals get tangled up with garden fences, hedgerows and even washing lines.

Deer numbers in Britain are at their highest level since the Norman invasion with two million roaming the countryside thanks to warmer winters – meaning more survive – and the introduction of new species.

However, stags at this time of year fight each to establish the alpha male – and are honing their butting skiills on everyday objects in urban areas.

They will attack flapping plastic bags stuck on a fence posts and hedges to "practice" fighting and then become entangled, The Deer Initiative has warned.

This can leaves them stuck – or with rubbish entwined in their antlers.

And they also charge fences or trees to remove itchy velvet from the antlers as they grow.

The stags roam around alone until they find another male, then they fight with their antlers, often to the death.

During this time stags are aggressive and have been known to charge dogs and even humans.

Red deer and fallow, that have larger antlers than introduced species like muntjac, are a particular problem.

The dominant stag will eventually re-join the herd to mate with the females.

Peter Watson, Director of the Deer Initiative, said because there are more deer in populated areas, where there is more human litter, they are more likely to get tangled in netting packaging or silage wrapping.

In the countryside it is common for deer to get antlers tangled in thorn bushes or even with each other.

He has seen deer with rotary washing lines stuck to their antlers.

“Deer are living closer than ever to urban areas. There are more deer therefore people are seeing more deer and more incidences [where animals become tangled].”

The Deer Initiative, which is a partnership between the Government, private sector and charities, is working with landowners to carry out culls in areas where the deer population is causing a problem.

Deer have been blamed for road traffic accidents and damaging woodland where rare native species like nightingales and bluebells live.

Currently around 350,000 deer are killed in Britain every year, mostly by rifle, but it could be increased to 500,000.

Warmer winters, no natural predators, a fall in the number of people hunting and year-round crops are blamed for the increase in deer numbers.

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Storm over ‘English’ term WC on roadsigns in Wales

It is a term recognized around the world offering relief for those with a very basic need – but not, it seems, in one corner of Wales.

Although the origins of the abbreviation “WC” are English, it has been adopted into everyday usage in German, Italian, Dutch, Hungarian and even French.

But now councillors in Gwynedd, north Wales, are being asked to justify the decision to include the term on roadsigns in the area.

The issue is due to be debated at the next meeting of the county council’s “language sub committee” following a complaint about the use of the non Welsh initials, short for water closet.

Officials have already been in touch with the Highways Agency amid fears that the term could become an unlikely rallying point for nationalist sentiment.

The dispute hinges on the use of the abbreviation on a sign on a roundabout on a new £35 million Porthmadog bypass advising motorists about a nearby public convenience.

There was controversy recently over a £650,000 bridge being built over the same bypass to help bats cross the road.

The agenda for the committee’s next meeting, on October 11, includes time for discussion about a complaint about the use of the phrase without the Welsh translation “toiled”.

A column setting out areas for discussion discloses that the council’s regulatory department has already been advised that WC is a “symbol” used as standard on all UK signs.

It calls for members of the committee to offer their comments.

Eric Jones, an independent member of the Plaid Cymru dominated committee said the complaint was bound to provoke discussion.

“Every complaint is discussed, they say we have got to do this, we’ve got to do that, we’ve got to write to these people,” he said

Mr Jones, who is a Welsh speaker himself, added: “There is nothing wrong with WC, we all understand what WC means and all of my family do but somebody else might have a different view … I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody does not agree with it.”

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Puppy saves swimmer from drowning

A British puppy was hailed a hero after alerting his owner to a swimmer in difficulty.

A British puppy has been hailed a hero after summoning help for a drowning man. Wilson spotted the swimmer in difficulty near Mumbles Lighthouse in Swansea and his barking attracted the attention of his owner lifeboat volunteer Richard Absalom who immediately jumped into action.

Mr. Absalom said: "Wilson does not like water, but he ran to the edge of the water and started barking. He was focused on a guy drifting between the two islands. It was after high tide and he was being dragged through. It’s perhaps one of the worst places to swim – there is a funnelling effect." "At first we could not see the guy. We were worried he had gone under, but he had made his way onto the rocks.

"He was exhausted, and was very grateful. He kept apologising. We reassured him, and asked him if needed medical attention."

Mumbles lifeboat operations manager Tim Conway said: "It’s not every day we act on information from a pet but we’re looking forward to welcoming Wilson to the Mumbles lifeboat family as he is showing plenty of potential!"

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Council spends £40,000 on 68 giant granite balls

A county council has been criticised for spending £40,000 on 68 giant granite balls to protect its new headquarters from ram-raiders and terrorists.

Tory-run Staffordshire County Council has positioned ‘spherical bollards’ costing £587 each outside its £38 million Staffordshire Place offices.

They have been described by the council as part of "an essential security package" – yet regular upright bollards are on sale for less than half the cost of the balls.

But Councillor Tom Harris, whose Forebridge ward takes in Stafford town centre, said: "I would have expected a cheaper option than the spherical bollards.

"The council says it will make savings from the move but they are spending nearly £40 million to save £10 million.

"Staffordshire Place was dreamed up at a time when money was growing on trees.

"But we are in a different situation now. There have been redundancies and a lot of other changes.

"I think a lot of taxpayers in Staffordshire will be asking whether the council is getting the best value for its money."

County Councillor Christina Jebb, who is leader of the Liberal Democrat and independent group, said: "These balls seem extraordinarily expensive. I’m sure they could have provided something very similar for a fraction of the cost.

"Obviously they will want to make the outside of the building attractive as well as the inside but they could have been a lot more measured."

Accounts clerk Shoab Iftikar, 24, said: "It seems like a waste of money to me. Why would anyone want to attack the Staffordshire County Council?"

Housewife June Hardinge, 58, remarked: "I don’t think they are very pretty and it does give the feel of the council building being like Fort Knox or something.

"I can’t see the council offices being a target for ram-raiders. Wouldn’t they be targeting a bank?"

Peter Darby, 42, said: "Stafford is hardly a number one target for terrorists."

The council worked with Staffordshire Police to decide how many bollards it needed.

Councillor Mark Winnington, cabinet member for environment and assets, said: "The stone bollards surrounding Staffordshire Place are part of an essential security package designed to protect the building and its occupants from threats, including ram raids.

"Some of the options we were given were more expensive than the one we decided on while others were less expensive.

"Our main priority was to provide value for money for taxpayers. We wanted to provide sturdy protection while also ensuring that the area surrounding the building was aesthetically pleasing.

"Staffordshire Place sits in the heart of Stafford and forms an integral part of the town centre masterplan to put Stafford on the map."

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "These bollards are designed to prevent crime."

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French schools ordered to ration ketchup

Schools in France have been ordered to limit the amount of ketchup served in cafeterias in order to preserve the nation’s cultural identity.

French schools have been ordered to ration ketchup in their cafeterias in order to preserve the cultural identity of their pupils.

Christophe Hebert, chairman of the National Association of Directors of Collective Restaurants says the new measures are an attempt to stop children from getting addicted to fattening junk food and also aims to help pupils to learn more about French cuisine.

He said: "Canteens have a public health mission but also an educative mission. We have to ensure that children become familiar with French recipes so that they can hand them down to the following generation.

"They need to know that in France food means conviviality, sharing and having a good time at the table. We absolutely have to stop children from being able to serve those sorts of sauces to themselves with every meal."

Under the new guidelines, fries can only be served once a week and broccoli and spinach must be encouraged.